Scotland

Romantic and mysterious Scotland, a land of stunning scenery, stretches across the north of the island of Great Britain. Officially it is one of the administrative and political units of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but in fact it is a historical and geographical area, which until the early 18th century was an independent state – the Kingdom of Scotland.

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Video: Scotland

Contents

Highlights

Traveling through Scotland evokes a storm of emotions. It amazes with the majesty of its unspoiled nature: emerald hills and mountains whose peaks hide in a misty haze, endless valleys dotted with flowering heather, ascetic rocky islands. Scotland is famous for its ancient castles preserving priceless works of art, endless beaches, golf courses, excellent cuisine. More than 2 million people come here every year to admire this remote and a little gloomy beauty. Vacation in Scotland belongs to the category of expensive, and most of the tourists are representatives of wealthy countries of Western Europe and Americans. Many of them own real estate here.

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The homeland of whisky and golf, bagpipes and plaid kilt is incredibly original. The Scots themselves even today feel their own individuality, have a special system of values, their own history and traditions, different from the English. You can see for yourself, because no matter what time you come to Scotland, you are sure to witness one of the festivals, theatrical performances or traditional sports competitions, the exact number of which is unknown even to the Scots themselves.

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History of Scotland

It is known that already in the first centuries of the first millennium A.D. most of the modern territory of Scotland was inhabited by Celtic tribes who penetrated here from Ireland. Having exterminated and partially assimilated the aboriginal population, they formed a nation, which is commonly referred to as “Picts”. So this well-organized warlike tribe was named by the Romans, who unsuccessfully tried to conquer the northern lands of the island of Britain. “Piktus” means “painted” in Latin: Pictish warriors who fought without armor tattooed their bodies with patterns.

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Since the XI century, England, Scotland’s southern neighbor, tried to conquer the kingdom, but the Scots have long been able to defend their independence. Warfare between the countries lulled and flared up again, aided in no small part by the internal struggle of Scottish clans for the throne. Claimants to the crown often openly or secretly tried to enlist the support of England, which skillfully pushed them head-on, using feuds for invasions, and sometimes initiated alliances based on marriages between English and Scottish royal dynasties.

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In the 16th century, Scotland was shaken by religious strife. The local nobility and bourgeoisie supported the leader of the Scottish Reformation, John Knox, a disciple of Calvin. However, the monarchical Stuart dynasty remained loyal to Catholicism. The iconic victim of the religious confrontation between Protestants and Catholics was Mary Stuart, who refused to change her faith. In 1603, her son, the Scottish monarch James VI, ascended the English throne, but despite a common ruler, the two countries remained unfriendly towards each other.

During the 17th century, attempts were made by the parliaments of Scotland and England to unite the two states, but it was not until 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, the last representative of the Stuart dynasty on the English throne, that the Act of Union was passed, which approved the formation of a single kingdom of Great Britain. The Scottish Parliament ceased to exist. But the document enshrined such important tenets for the Scots as the priority of the Presbyterian Church and the independent status of the legal system.

In 1998, the UK Parliament passed an Act giving Scotland back the right to have its own parliament and government.

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Scottish character

According to English writer George Orwell, the most striking characteristics of the British are “ostentatious equanimity, politeness, respect for the law, suspicion of foreigners, sentimental attachment to animals, hypocrisy, emphasizing class and class distinctions, and a passion for sport.” The inhabitants of Scotland will not fail to notice that these words refer mainly to the English. The English themselves, to the displeasure of the Scots, are not inclined to recognize the distinction between the words “British” and “Englishman”, although the contradictory nature of the Scottish national character, which combines sullenness and humor, calculation and generosity, arrogance and tolerance, sensitivity and stubbornness, often lead them into confusion. While the English can be affable depending on the circumstances, the Scots are characterized by sincere courtesy and hospitable cordiality. English literature is thickly peppered with witticisms about the Scots, who in turn often refer to the union of the two countries as a forced wedding. Unlike the English, the Scots have never been under either Roman or Franco-Norman rule, and this is an additional source of pride.

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The establishment of Protestantism here, unlike in England, was often accompanied by tragic events, which hardened the character of the adherents of the Reformation, in many ways making them dogmatic. In remote corners of Scotland, cooking, cleaning or reading the press on Sundays are still considered serious sins. Scottish Catholics are also considerably more orthodox than English Catholics.

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Acutely sensitive to their national identity, the Scots are nevertheless keenly aware of the economic benefits of their union with England. The results of the Scottish National Party’s 2014 independence referendum are a clear indication of this: 52% of Scots supported remaining a united country.

The spirit of an independent Scotland is especially felt in its northern regions, inhabited by the Gaels – Scottish Highlanders. They have their own way of life, which still includes the notion of clannishness that was established here in the Middle Ages. Echoes of the old clan system are still preserved in the surnames of Scots of Gaelic origin, which begin with the word “Mac” (Gaelic for “son”). Many Highland villagers still today share a common surname.

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During folk festivals, the Scots, wishing to emphasize adherence to tradition, dress up in ceremonial Gaelic clothing: dressy white shirts with lap collars, plaid skirts in a large fold (kilt), short cloth jackets and plaids, which are thrown over one shoulder. Kilt and plaid are made of a special plaid fabric – tartan. Each Scottish clan had its own coloring of this fabric. At the end of the XVIII century, this clothing became the uniform of the Scottish Guards regiments. Today, the kilt is worn by teenage boys, adult men, and even officials.

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National currency

Although the UK’s official currency is the English pound, Scotland is allowed to issue its own money. This is also the pound, but the banknotes have differences in design. However, it is guaranteed to spend Scottish pounds only on the territory of Scotland, in other regions of the UK in stores may not accept them. Such an exotic bill is not a bad souvenir from this mountainous region.

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Geography

Scotland has “captured” a third of the country’s territory and three archipelagos – the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands. Its northern and western coasts are washed by the waters of the Atlantic, while its eastern shores face the North Sea. Scotland is separated from the island of Ireland by the Northern Channel, which connects the Irish Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Scotland’s west and east coasts are connected by the Caledonian Canal, part of which is the famous Loch Ness.

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Highland Scotland has long been divided into two regions: the historic Lowland and Highland areas. Lowland is in the southeast, comprising the South Scottish Highlands and the low-lying Scottish Plains. However, this territory can be called flat only conditionally: in its center runs a chain of hills of volcanic origin, everywhere scattered hundreds of small rocky ridges. Only river floodplains occupy lowlands with fertile land and lush pastures. The Lowlands are home to about two-thirds of the population and most of the major farms and industries. It is also home to Scotland’s largest cities, the capital Edinburgh and Glasgow.

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To the northwest is the Highlands, or Scottish Highlands. It is a special world with vast expanses of wild land, chains of craggy mountains crisscrossed by narrow valleys with rivers, waterfalls and lakes, and deep fjords reaching out to the sea. Open to oceanic winds, the western mountain slopes are devoid of woody vegetation, while the eastern ridges shelter luxuriant Scots pines, spruces and deciduous trees. Above the forest boundary, heathland, moorland and fern thickets dominate. At the southern end of the Highlands lie the Grampian Mountains, the highest in Britain, with the summit of Ben Nevis (1,343 m).

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Tourism seasons

Due to the fact that Scotland has unlimited opportunities for the most diverse recreation, the tourist season here lasts all year round. But travelers “occupy” it en masse from May to August, as well as during the New Year and Christmas holidays.

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May, when the season officially opens, is the sunniest month of the year. By midday the air in the flat part of Scotland warms up to +15 ° C, in the northern areas a little cooler. In summer even in the warmest days the air temperature does not exceed +23 °С, quite often there are cold spells. If you decide to go to the mountains, dress warmer: here usually no more than +15 ° C.

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Summer is the time when the valleys and highlands are covered with bright carpets of blooming heather, and the west coast, washed by blue ocean waters, becomes comfortable for beach vacations. Scottish beaches with snow-white sand, going beyond the horizon, are one of the most beautiful on the planet, but take into account that the water temperature at the coast never exceeds +20 °С. Summer is the peak of the fishing season.

In September it is still warm enough (about +15 ° C), but the rains begin, however, short-term. In October, the weather deteriorates sharply: the sky is covered with rain clouds, it becomes wet and windy. However, surfers believe that the best waves on the coast are in October. November brings stronger winds and storms. The temperature on the Scottish plains is about +8 ° C, and in the mountainous areas falls the first snow, there are frosts.

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Winter in the plains is quite mild, but wet and windy: the temperature usually ranges from -2 to +4 ° C, it often snows with rain. In mountains in this time it is snowy, temperature can fall to -10 °С. From December the ski season starts in Scotland, which lasts till April.

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Lowland

This historic region is clearly divided into east and west, not only geographically but also due to the character of its inhabitants. The inhabitants of the east consider themselves to be sophisticated people of good taste. Scots living in the west, including Glasgow, are not pretentious and believe that their main virtue is good-heartedness and realism.

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Edinburgh

In the east of Scotland, along the picturesque shore of the Firth of Forth, lies one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Edinburgh, which became the capital of the Kingdom of Scotland during the reign of David I (1124-1253). Whichever way you arrive in this city standing between the sea and the hills, the first thing that comes into view is the castle towering over a basalt ridge.

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The castle tops seem to jut into the sky, and the peaked roofs, spires and towers of the old town form a broken skyline. It stretches from the crenellated walls of the stronghold to the palace of Holyroodhouse, hidden beneath a green mountain called “King Arthur’s Throne.” At its summit is Edinburgh’s best viewing platform.

Within the castle grounds is the oldest building in the capital, the tiny chapel of Queen Margaret of Scotland. It was built in the early twelfth century. It houses the Scottish crown, sceptre and sword – some of the oldest royal regalia in Europe.

Royal Mile Street, stretching from the wide esplanade in front of Edinburgh Castle to the royal palace of Holyroodhouse, was the center of city life until the end of the XVIII century and still remains quite lively. A spectacular theatricalized military parade takes place here during the famous Edinburgh Summer Festival. Going down the street, you will see marvelous buildings – examples of British architecture of XVI-XVIII centuries. Narrow alleys fan out from Royal Mile. In their spans you can see glimpses of the Pentland Hills to the south, the North Sea to the east, and the silvery waters of the Firth of Forth to the north.

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At the end of the Royal Mile is Holyroodhouse Palace, the residence of Her Majesty the Queen while in Scotland. The palace, laid out by James IV in 1498, was completed under James V and Charles II. In the formal apartments hang marvelous French and Flemish tapestries and 18th century furniture. In the throne room, the Queen of Great Britain appoints top officials and honors the worthy.

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As you descend to the foot of the hills, you will find yourself in the heart of Edinburgh – on Princes Street, one of the busiest streets in Europe. It leads you into the New Town, which is set under the shadow of medieval buildings at the far end of the valley. This graceful complex of streets and circular squares is a fine example of 18th century urban planning.

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The capital is a pleasant place to spend some time leisurely exploring the many museums and galleries that house works of art from the Middle Ages to the postmodern era.

Edinburgh is not only the administrative, historical, but also the gastronomic center of Scotland. It has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the UK. In the lively cafes on Royal Mile and in the spacious Grassmarket Square near the castle, you can enjoy a meal accompanied by music. Royal Mile is home to the Deacon Brodie Tavern, described in Robert Stevenson’s creepy The Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Rose Street is famous for its pubs, where fans are happy or sad after rugby matches. This street is also home to one of Edinburgh’s best cafes, the Abbotsford.”

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Borderlands and Eastern Lands

Heading south from Edinburgh along the road through the picturesque hills, you will find yourself in the English borderlands. This part of Scotland has always been the first to fight back against the Romans and the English, holding off their attempts to break through to the north. Today it is a peaceful pastoral region with undulating ridges of green hills and clear rivers. The main occupation of the locals is farming and making tweed and knitted goods. The Tuid River, which flows through here, is an excellent trout and salmon fishery.

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On the south bank of the river is Abbotsford Manor, built in the early 19th century by Sir Walter Scott to his own design. The pretty house, built in the old Scottish style, seems to look out over the river and looks incredibly romantic. Abbotsford, which is still owned by one of Scott’s descendants, is filled with memories of the famous writer. It is home to a museum that houses a fine collection of historical relics, armor and weapons, including Rob Roy’s rifle, Montrose’s sword and Prince Charles Edward’s cup.

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A drive of 3km further south brings you to the charming town of Melrose, set at the foot of the triple ridge of the Eildon Hills. A Roman fortress stands on one of the eastern slopes, offering stunning views of the hills running west to Galloway. In the town itself, the ruins of the 12th-century Melrose Abbey, still an architectural poem, are most impressive. The city is also famous for the local sports club’s invention of the world-famous “all-rounder” sport of rugby. Rugby has a special passion in the border towns. Picturesque medieval monasteries are nearby: at Dryborough, where Walter Scott is buried, at Kelso and at Jedborough.

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There are some particularly impressive grand estates in the south of Scotland, with outstanding collections of paintings and furniture. These include Flors Castle, the residence of the Duke of Roxborough, one of the Duke of Buccleuch’s castles, Bauhill, and the Earls of Haddington’s home, Mellerstein, built in the 18th century by the famous Scottish architect Robert Adam.

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To the east of Edinburgh, south of the Firth of Forth lies the historic Lothian. The hills and fields are covered in lush vegetation and the golf courses here are considered some of the best in the UK. Aberlady Bay offers excellent birdwatching, as well as lovely dune-fringed sandbars and many castles.

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Ten kilometers off the coast, near the town of Haddington, is Lennoxlaw, the seat of the Duke of Hamilton. The town itself, with its meticulously restored 17th- and 18th-century buildings, is also worth a visit.

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On the east coast is the St. Abbs Head Reserve. It is set on a picturesque rocky promontory jutting out into the North Sea. It is a bird paradise, with colonies of cairns, cormorants, grouse, herring gulls and loons nesting on the cliffs. The sites are the best for scuba diving in the whole of Scotland. Divers must obtain permission from the reserve’s warden.

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On the north side of the wide, silvery bay of the Firth of Forth lies the county of Fife. Here mines and industry are everywhere, but the life of the local towns and villages is distinctive and charming. In the western part of this land, at the head of the river, is the village of Culross, here you will find the best preserved and most picturesque houses of those built in the towns of Scotland in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

To the east lies the ancient capital of the Scottish kingdom of Dunfermline. Its main attraction is the beautiful 12th century cathedral, where one of Scotland’s greatest kings, Robert the Bruce, was buried in 1329.

To the north of Dunfermline, the picturesque fishing ports of Earlsferry, Sket Monans, Pittenuim, Anstruther and Crail are dotted along the coast of Cape Fife Ness. Nearby you’ll find Falkland Palace, a Stuart hunting lodge, the elegant Tarvit House with its fine collection of furniture, tapestries, paintings and the fourteenth-century Kelly Castle.

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Fife’s most famous town is St. Andrews. It is the birthplace of golf and is home to the famous Old Course, which has been played for 800 years. St. Andrews is also home to one of the oldest British universities, founded in 1412. There are many magnificent buildings in this city, and it is also famous for the fact that for a long time it was the religious center of Scotland. It was here that the church reformer John Knox delivered his first sermon.

Western Lands

On the banks of the River Clyde, 22 kilometers from its delta, lies Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow. During the Middle Ages it was an authoritative religious and educational center of the kingdom, and the industrial revolution of the XVIII century turned it into one of the most economically developed and densely populated cities of Great Britain. Glasgow grew rich through shipbuilding and heavy engineering, and at the end of the 19th century it became Scotland’s second largest city. Its solid manufacturing base was destroyed during the economic downturn of the 1970s. However, the recession was followed by the economic and cultural boom of the 1990s, and not long ago the EU recognized Glasgow as a “City of High Culture.”

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Not everything about Glasgow’s cultural image is an achievement of recent decades. The 12th-century cathedral in the Old Town is the only Scottish medieval church to escape destruction during the Reformation. Opposite it you can see the three-storey Providence Lordship, the oldest secular building in the city (1471), now a museum. In the old part is also the Glasgow School of Art, the west wing of the building was built by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928), one of the originators of the Art Nouveau style. In Glasgow, you should definitely visit the University Museum and the Art Gallery of Art, which is second only to London’s Tate Gallery in the number of visitors. It has an impressive collection of paintings, including works by the Glasgow Boys, a group of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters from the turn of the last century, as well as Scottish painters from the post-war years.

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A highway through the center of Glasgow and then crossing the River Clyde will take you into the county of Ayrshire. This is the birthplace of Robert Burns and an area of famous resorts such as Largue, Troon, Prestwick and Gervan. There is a ferry from Weyms Bay to the islands of Bute and Milport, and from the town of Ardrossan to Arran, a favorite Sunday destination for Scots living on the West Coast. Ayrshire is home to some of Scotland’s finest golf courses. Among them are three courses for the Open Championship, where it was first played in 1860.

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Just outside the coastal town of Era, in the provincial town of Alloway, stands the house where iconic Scottish poet Robert Burns was born to a peasant family in 1759. Next to it is a modern building housing a museum dedicated to the author of immortal ballads.

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On the coast near the town of Kerkosualda rises Kalzin Castle, one of the greatest creations of architect Robert Adam. Here you can admire a fine collection of paintings, weapons, furniture and porcelain.

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South of Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and other pretty towns and villages lie along the Solway Firth. These are then replaced by wild heathland. This piece of land ends in the hammer-shaped Galloway Peninsula. The upper part of the “hammer” is separated from the sea by Loch Ryan Bay, famous for its oysters. The bay’s harbor is home to Stranraer, the main departure port from Scotland to Ireland.

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Eight kilometers north, towards the town of Dumfries, lie the imposing ruins of Swithart Abbey. Dumfries itself, situated on the trout-favored River Nith, is the largest town in southwest Scotland. This is where Robert Burns moved here at the end of his life. His house has been preserved and turned into a museum. A monument to the poet stands in the High Street.

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Twelve kilometers south of Dumfries, on the banks of the Solway Firth, you will see the remains of the triangular fortress of Caerlaverock surrounded by a moat of water. This was a powerful fortification on the English border lands. In the 17th century, the Earl of Nithsdale built a classical mansion inside the ruins, thus creating one of Scotland’s most extravagant architectural complexes.

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Between Glasgow and Edinburgh lies the city of Stirling, which claims to be the true capital of Scotland. Its entire history is an illustration of Scotland’s struggle for its independence. Stirling Castle, the most important defensive stronghold of Scotland, seems to grow out of a high rock, epitomizing the defiance and courage of the Scots. Several times it was captured by the English, but they could not hold on for long. From 1307 to 1603 the castle was the residence of the Stuarts. We also recommend visiting the Church of the Holy Cross and Kembaskennet Abbey.

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At the time of the confrontation between Scotland and England, it was believed that the side controlling the castle was the owner of the entire Kingdom of Scotland, and today the ancient town of Stirling is referred to as the brooch that holds together the southern Lowlands and northern Highlands.

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Highland

The historic Highlands cover almost a third of Scotland, but barely more than 10% of its population live here. There are so many picturesque corners of this land that you could spend a lifetime looking into each one.

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The southern border of the Highlands, bordering the Lowlands, divides Scotland diagonally from Mull of Kintyre, a narrow strip of land stretching from the county of Argyll on the west coast to Stonhwain, lying on the east coast, south of Aberdeen, the third among Scotland’s largest cities. After large oil reserves were discovered in the North Sea in the 1970s, the center of the UK’s oil industry developed here.

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Aberdeen’s convenient strategic location made the city a royal domain back in the Middle Ages, which contributed to its economic and cultural development. The local university, founded in 1495, is one of the five oldest in the UK. Aberdeen is often referred to as the “Silver City” due to the fact that the quartz crystals in the granite from which the city’s buildings were constructed glisten expressively in the sunlight.

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Eighty kilometers east of Aberdeen, in the uplands of Royal Deeside, is Balmoral Manor, founded in the 15th century. Since 1848 it has been owned by the royal family, whose members spend part of their summers here. The castle is closed to the public, but when the royals leave, the castle park is open to the public. On the way to the royal estate you will see many magnificent castles. All of them are characterized by originality of style and furnishings, beautiful stucco ceilings, valuable art collections.

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Traveling through the northwestern Highlands is more convenient to start from Glasgow. The highway heading north from the city almost immediately leads to the Highlands and runs along the shores of Loch Lomond, Britain’s largest freshwater body of water, 37 km long and 8 km at its widest part. The area is illuminated by a wonderful soft light, giving a magical mystery to the medieval castles and steep hills surrounding the loch. Beyond Loch Lomond rises the eternally challenging Ben Lomond, one of the Munro, as the 282 Scottish “tricentennial” peaks (3000 ft = 914 m) are called.

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To the northeast of these lies the town of Fort William with its magnificent 17th century fortifications. Fort William is a busy crossroads of the Highlands, from where tourists embark on a wide variety of routes. One of them is paved to a popular corner of the Scottish Highlands – Glencoe. This deep, incredibly scenic valley stretches 11 kilometers from Loch Leven to the heathland of Rannoch Moor. Glencoe is home to the historic site of Wailing Valley. Here, in 1692, troops of King William III of England attacked the MacDonald clan, slaughtering the entire population as punishment for the slowness shown by the head of the clan in expressing loyalty to the English king.

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Rannoch Moor is 155 km² of peat bogs, heathlands, lakes and meandering rivers. The inhabitants of the plain are waterfowl, skylarks, plovers, red deer and the local brown peat lakes are home to fat trout. A beautiful panorama of these places opens to tourists traveling on the railroad, laid at an altitude of 400 m above sea level.

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From Fort William there are bus tours to the legendary Loch Ness, where tourists rush in the hope of meeting the famous Scottish monster. Most likely, you will never be able to see the serpentine contours on the smooth surface of the lake, but you can always admire the picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle, located in these parts.

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To the northeast of Fort William is a historical area – the plain of Culloden Moor, where in 1746 there was a battle between the Scots led by Charles Edward Stuart, a pretender to the British throne, and government troops under the command of the Duke of Cumberland. The Scots were defeated, and today there are stones marking their graves along the road leading to these places. The battle was fought near Old Lenagh Farm. It still exists today, having become Culloden House Museum.

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To the west, along the River Spey, lay the rich lands of Lye of Moray. Here lie the distilleries that produce most of the malt whisky. Some of them are open to the public. Here you can watch the process of making Gaelic “aqua vitae”, and even have a shot at the end of the tour.

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The road leading from Fort William west to the town of Mallaig passes through places where you’ll be treated to stunning panoramas. Passing Loch Shiel, you’ll find yourself in Lochalort with its magnificent views of the sea and rocky islets in the clear waters of Loch nan Wham Bay. You’ll then see its rocky shores replaced by the silver, dazzling sands of the coastal areas of Morar and Arisaig. Further out, the mountains stretch away from the shore, reflected in the dark waters of Loch Morar, the UK’s deepest lake at over 300 meters deep. It is said to be home to a monster no less mysterious than the Loch Ness reptile.

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Mallaig itself is a small but picturesque port from which ferries to the Hebrides Islands run. Heading further north from Mallaig, you’ll see one of Scotland’s most beautiful lakes, Loch Maree, the lovely gardens at Inverie on Loch Ewe, and watch the landscape change, gradually taking on the stark outlines of lunar landscapes.

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The road north will take you to Inverness, the administrative center of the Highlands and the largest city in Northern Scotland. It is known to Shakespeare’s fans as the birthplace of King Macbeth, but this is not true, but the cliff-top medieval castle of Inverness described by the poet is very real. Occupying a strategic position at the mouth of the River Ness, it has survived more than one siege, and witnessed major historical events.

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Today Inverness is a major trading center, a port from which ferries depart for the far north of Scotland – to the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

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Islands

In the very north of the UK, between the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, lie two archipelagos: the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The former is separated from the northern tip of Scotland by 10 kilometers, the latter by 150 kilometers. A large part of the islands and islets belonging to both archipelagos are uninhabited.

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On this pristine land, open to the sea and sky, the cliffs, hills and mountains are the masters. The shores of the islands, on which high, powerful waves often crash, are precipitous, riddled with deep fjords and bays. The cliffs on some islands rise more than three hundred meters. Nature demonstrates a variety of rocks – red and gray granite, black labrador, pink and brown quartz, gray and white limestone.

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There are also low, gentle shores, which are slippery, overgrown with algae haphazardly piled boulders and slabs. In some bays marshy shores suddenly turn into luxurious beaches with white sand.

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Due to the continuous winds, the weather here is unstable, but thanks to the warm sea currents, it can not be called harsh. The most comfortable time is June-July. At this time it is light 19 hours a day, during the day it is mostly clear, but the wind at any time can bring cold or thick fog. When traveling to the islands, care should be taken with waterproof clothing and shoes.

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In late spring and early summer, everything is in bloom and the many birds that have taken up residence here are hatching and raising their young. In July birds change their plumage and prepare for their journey to